Word
atrocious
Phoneticsatro·cious
US/əˈtɹoʊʃəs/
UK/ɐtɹˈəʊʃəs/
Definition
adj. extremely bad, unpleasant, or of very poor quality. You use this to describe something that is shocking or terrible.
adj. exceptionally bad or of very low quality; often used to describe performance, weather, or behavior. Frequently carries a tone of strong disapproval or shock.
Examples
“The weather today is absolutely atrocious.”
“The team lost the game because their defensive play was atrocious throughout the second half.”
“While the plot of the novel showed some promise, the atrocious grammar and inconsistent pacing made it nearly impossible for most readers to finish.”
Examples
simple
“The weather today is absolutely atrocious.”
contextual
“The team lost the game because their defensive play was atrocious throughout the second half.”
complex
“While the plot of the novel showed some promise, the atrocious grammar and inconsistent pacing made it nearly impossible for most readers to finish.”
Usage
Often modified by intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'utterly' rather than 'very'.
Real-World Examples
“At one end of the spectrum lies the pressure group NUFC Fans against Sportswashing who, admirably, do not miss an opportunity to highlight Saudi Arabia’s atrocious human right record.” “Prominent human rights activist Gauri Pradhan called the attack a "very painful incident and the government should punish anyone involved in such atrocious act.” Etymology
From Latin atrōx (“cruel, fierce, frightful”) + -ious.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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